The Shrink, Biggles and Boggles’ first offering

Publishing Date : 10 October, 2017

Author : DAVE BAAITSE

New kid on block Biggles and Boggles will publish its first its first local book, The Shrink early next year. Biggles and Boggles is the brainchild of Bridget Buzwani, a former freelancer with publishing company Black Crake Books.

The release of The Shrink will mark the company’s first major project. Having worked with Black Crake Books owner, Nick Green, a Briton who had his sights on developing literary works in the country, Buzwani might very well be the right woman for the job. Green was based in Maun for some time before giving up on his dream. As if carrying the torch from her former employer, Buzwani wants to publish Batswana writers and turn them into authors of note.She is using her own book, which she says she has been working on for years now as a launch pad.

“I have been writing the book for a few years now. It is actually an adaptation of a comic concept that I had come up with and yet again a well- meaning friend advised me to write the comic as a story, wrap it up into a novel,” she said. In an interview with WeekendLife Buzwani said when she started writing the book she had realised that kids and adolescents find it hard to talk to their parents. They basically don’t have anyone to talk to, to help them tackle their social problems, so The Shrink is that bridge.

Tebogo is the main character in the book which is due in 2018. She is a shrink at Mogwana high and the problems the kids face are all real. Buzwani is currently working with local schools on a mission to engage the pupils on the book. Buzwani says her strength as a writer is in fiction. “I have played around with poetry, you know that rhyming kind till I started more grungy poetry, it helped me get through a few rough patches in my life,” she said. In the book she also doubles with short stories.

“After being encouraged to write a full book, I found I enjoyed it. I enjoy writing fiction. I majored in Journalism at University, but didn’t really enjoy writing hard core news. Really love making up stories.” Biggles and Boggles was conceptualised in 2007 when Buzwani was still at University and over the years the company evolved from just being a fantasy to being a reality. “The name is merge of two side of me; The dreamer and optimistic playful side is ‘Biggles’ and the pessimistic, strict and rigid side that if run by roles is regulations is ‘Boggles.” The company’s major focus is publishing books, mainly fiction. Its target audience is the youth of Botswana.

Buzwani said it is every writers dream to get published. “These days it is hard to find a good and reliable publisher that will turn your dreams into a reality. We are invested in making you a published author. Your passion is our passion. Your dream is our dream,” she said.